A recent incident involving Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, has put the spotlight on alleged corruption at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
According to news reports, Tiong is accused to have breached safety protocols by entering the arrival hall at KLIA without authorisation in his attempt to assist a detained Chinese national. It was claimed that the foreign tourist was detained without being given a reason, and problems arose due to communication issues between her and the immigration officers.
Tiong, who confirmed his presence at the airport, also highlighted alleged requests for money made by immigration officers to release detained foreign tourists. He urged the Home Minister to address and eradicate corrupt practices.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has also called for an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident at KLIA.
"There is nothing new about reports of corruption and victimisation of tourists by Malaysian immigration officers. These incidents involve tourists from many nationalities not just the Chinese. MATTA has, on several occasions raised concerns about this as it impedes tourism stakeholders marketing efforts, said MATTA president, Datuk Tan Kok Liang.
He emphasised the need to address the core issue of corruption, abuse of power, and mistreatment of tourists rather than focusing solely on Tiong's protocol breach.
“It is imperative that the government does all it can to uplift the image of Malaysia as a safe and attractive tourism destination by eliminating corruption at all levels more so at KLIA which is the main gateway,” stressed Tan.
Looking ahead, MATTA urges the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to reassess the situation in light of recent developments at key entry points in the country. Additionally, a review of the procedures for handling travelers with "not to land" (NTL) status is deemed crucial to prevent abuses, considering Malaysia's preparations to welcome more international tourists.
“We hope that the various ministries will work closely with MOTAC to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a key tourism destination in Southeast Asia and we anticipate more positive changes to the industry in the coming months,” he added.